Smart Forstars Concept Paris Motor Show - Web Exclusive

Finally a Smart looking Smart.

When the Smart car began wooing the world with its cute looks and limitless color pallet, the car was missing one important element. Sex Appeal. They are after all, “cute”. And considering the Worlds Cutest Car Chase that took place recently in Texas, even attempting to flee in one is comical.

Today Smart has released images of their concept car dubbed Forstars, which will leap onto the Paris Motor Show stage later this month. The concept car takes cues from the Smart for-us concept debuted earlier this year at the Detroit Motor Show.

It’s wider and longer than the traditional Smart ForTwo we are used to seeing. The car looks like a lean parkouring bullfrog waiting to leap at any moment. Short overhangs, tires pushed to the outer corners and 21” wheels add drama to the cars energetic proportions. The 60kW magneto-electirc motor (pulled from the smart BRABUS electric drive) achieves no-lag acceleration and a zero-emissions with 100 lb.ft. of torque for plenty of tarmac thrashing enjoyment. Top speed is around 80mph with the fully charged 17.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

“Alubeam rouge" paint has a wet look that provides an exciting and very modern contrast to the matte and distinctly metallic appearance of the titanium-colored tridion cell. Where rally cars have an air scoop on the bonnet, on the Smart Forstars a video projector is integrated here as an ironic highlight. This can then be controlled remotely via Bluetooth from your iPhone. Turning almost any location into a drive-in theater.

Inside, the Forstar is stylish, uncomplicated and sleek. Taut surfaces in mother-of-pearl white are combined with CNC-like functional elements finished in brushed aluminum. The exterior color "alubeam rouge" is used as an accent color in the interior that creates a link to the exterior.

The seat shells, which are open in the middle, are covered with a soft fabric throw giving them a hammock-like seating feel. The graphic elements and different red tones of the covers promote a trendy aspect of the vehicle. Storage compartments to the left and right of the high-quality cargo area fitted with aluminum rails offer additional storage space.

The control and display elements are oriented to the driver. Just as the cockpit module divides the instrument panel, the two-spoke steering wheel is open at the top. In place of a conventional rear-view mirror the Smart Forstars features a smartphone accommodated in a holder at the top of the windscreen.

While this is the best looking Smart car we have seen in sometime, we are skeptical as to weather or not it will reach production. If there is anything to take away from this concept study, it’s the aggressive and animated design language that could help push the Smart car brand into the next dimension. With any luck we could see the Forstars in the states with a turbocharged 3-cylinder, but Smart hasn’t confirmed this. For now Europeans can look forward to a fun new Smart car dashing through their alley ways.